APPROVAL GUIDANCE

EXPOSURE SUITS (IMMERSION SUITS)

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.171

APPROVAL GUIDANCE &
INFORMATION: Follow the requirements of 46 CFR 160.171. The Coast Guard does not test materials or systems for
approval but rather specifies the required test methods and minimum
performance criteria for approval. Product testing must be
performed by a Coast Guard Accepted Independent Laboratory.

SUBMITTAL PACKAGE: Please
submit the following information in the Submittal Package:

A cover letter requesting Coast Guard Type Approval of the
equipment.

Required information and test report from the Accepted
Independent Laboratory as per 46 CFR 160.171-7

Evidence that an acceptable follow-up factory inspection program
with the Accepted Independent Laboratory is in place.

Please send the Submittal Package and other related information to the
following address:

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive
Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA).
The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that
time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control
Program.

THERMAL PROTECTION AIDS

APPROVAL CATEGORY: 160.174

APPROVAL GUIDANCE & INFORMATION:
Follow the requirements of 46 CFR 160.174. The Coast Guard does
not test materials or systems for approval but rather specifies the
required test methods and minimum performance criteria for
approval. Product testing must be performed by a Coast Guard
Accepted Independent Laboratory.

Once the equipment has been approved by this office, it will receive
Coast Guard Type Approval and a Certificate of Approval (COA).
The COA will be issued for 5 years and will remain valid during that
time period if the product meets the testing of the Quality Control
Program.

RETROREFLECTIVE MATERIAL ARRANGEMENTS

Immersion suits should be fitted with patches of retro-reflective
material with a total area of at least 400 cm2 distributed so as to be
useful for search from air and surface craft from all directions.
For an immersion suit that does not automatically turn the wearer face
up, the back of the suit should be fitted with retro-reflective
material with a total area of at least 100 cm2.

Retroreflective material arrangements applied by the manufacturer on
approved immersion suits have been reviewed and approved and should not
be changed even if the arrangement does not appear to be exactly the
same as this illustration.